Abstract
An investigation has been made of the source potential, degree of maturation and hydrocarbon composition of selected oils and sediments in the Murta Member in ATP 267P and the Moomba and Napacoongee-Murteree Blocks (PEL 5 and 6), Eromanga Basin. Shales in the Murta Member contain low amounts (up to 2.5% TOC) of terrestrial oil-prone organic matter (Types II-III) which consists predominantly of sporinite, liptodetrinite and inertinite with lower amounts of vitrinite, although some samples contain relatively abundant telalginite. Extractable hydrocarbon yields demonstrate that parts of the Murta Member are effective source rocks at present maturation levels, which are at the threshold of the conventional oil window (vitrinite reflectance = 0.5-0.6% Ro). The unusual circumstances represented by the Murta oils (low maturity, low-wax terrestrial oils) provide evidence for bacterial contribution to the source material for non-marine oils. -from Authors
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 114-129 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | APEA Journal |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 1989 |